More on Machado and leftover Strop quotes
By Roch Kubatko
CHICAGO - There's good news coming from the Orioles. Manny Machado only has two knees.
I got it confirmed late last night.
Seriously, the Orioles must be hopeful that Machado will come back stronger and the knee-buckling, season-ending injuries will be behind him. Fix the other abnormality. Exercise to strengthen the areas around both knees.
The Orioles haven't publicly confirmed the pending surgery. I got it from an industry source. Executive vice president Dan Duquette figures to do it later this morning after meeting with reporters in front of the dugout.
From what I've heard, Machado spoke to his doctors and decided on the surgery rather than spend more time resting and trying to rehab the knee. I'm not inside his head, but I'd assume that he's concerned about being slow-played again in spring training and perhaps missing the first month of the season. Get it done now and be ready on opening day 2015.
On the flip side, there are people in the organization who say this injury isn't as serious as the one to his left knee. And if you're Machado, would you do everything possible to at least be ready by the playoffs - assuming the Orioles make it - and worry later about next season? Make that run, on that knee, for the World Series?
Not saying there's a right or wrong answer. Just two ways he could have gone.
Machado must be convinced that the knee won't improve to the point where he can play again without the procedure. Remember how many opinions he sought last year before giving up on the whole rest/rehab strategy?
As for the procedure, Duquette hopefully will offer up some specifics. We still don't know which ligament. We were never told the grade of sprain. Was the injury more serious? Was there a setback? Is it the same as before and Machado's simply following the recommendation of his medical people?
Machado was in serious pain when his knee buckled and he collapsed at home plate. He also had, I'm guessing, a panic moment while flashing back to Tropicana Field (hold the jokes). But he's walking without a limp and without crutches, which probably gave some of us a false sense of hope.
The Orioles must decide whether they need a third baseman or a utility infielder or none of the above. They're 26-18 without Machado. Chris Davis can play third and Steve Pearce can handle first. Rosters expand on Sept. 1, which allows them to summon reinforcements from Triple-A Norfolk.
I've been asked whether they try to trade for Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, who cleared waivers. I ask whether the Rangers really are willing to move him. He's owed $18 million next season and his contract includes a $16 million vesting option in 2016 that can be voided if he fails to have 1,200 plate appearances in 2014-2015 combined or 600 next year.
Whichever team wins the American League pennant may literally be the last one standing. There have been some serious injuries among the contenders.
The Orioles are resilient. Keep saying it until your voice becomes raspy. They're resilient. They've won without Machado and Matt Wieters. They've won without the anticipated production from Davis, J.J. Hardy and Ubaldo Jimenez. I could add to the list, but we've gone over it enough times to recite it in unison.
They played without Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts in the 2012 postseason. They could win the American League East, maybe clinch home-field advantage, without Machado and Wieters.
The Orioles are resilient.
Are they deep enough to get deep into October?
Before I close this entry, I've got some leftover quotes from former Orioles reliever Pedro Strop, who tossed a scoreless eighth inning yesterday and stranded two runners.
"First time I've ever faced those guys since I got traded," he said. "It was a little weird, because those are the guys that used to be my teammates. I was a little pumped up, obviously. It's just the same. Got to get outs.
"Maybe I was a little pumped up, yeah. I got out one of the better hitters in the league (Adam Jones) in that kind of a situation, getting out of a jam. I gave my team an opportunity to win there, so that situation was a tough situation. That might also be why I was a little pumped up."
Strop noticed all the Orioles fans in attendance.
"Yeah, that was really weird to see all that orange in the stands," he said. "Usually, this
town is Cubs. That was kind of weird."
From what I've heard, Machado spoke to his doctors and decided on the surgery rather than spend more time resting and trying to rehab the knee. I'm not inside his head, but I'd assume that he's concerned about being slow-played again in spring training and perhaps missing the first month of the season. Get it done now and be ready on opening day 2015.
On the flip side, there are people in the organization who say this injury isn't as serious as the one to his left knee. And if you're Machado, would you do everything possible to at least be ready by the playoffs - assuming the Orioles make it - and worry later about next season? Make that run, on that knee, for the World Series?
Not saying there's a right or wrong answer. Just two ways he could have gone.
Machado must be convinced that the knee won't improve to the point where he can play again without the procedure. Remember how many opinions he sought last year before giving up on the whole rest/rehab strategy?
As for the procedure, Duquette hopefully will offer up some specifics. We still don't know which ligament. We were never told the grade of sprain. Was the injury more serious? Was there a setback? Is it the same as before and Machado's simply following the recommendation of his medical people?
Machado was in serious pain when his knee buckled and he collapsed at home plate. He also had, I'm guessing, a panic moment while flashing back to Tropicana Field (hold the jokes). But he's walking without a limp and without crutches, which probably gave some of us a false sense of hope.
The Orioles must decide whether they need a third baseman or a utility infielder or none of the above. They're 26-18 without Machado. Chris Davis can play third and Steve Pearce can handle first. Rosters expand on Sept. 1, which allows them to summon reinforcements from Triple-A Norfolk.
I've been asked whether they try to trade for Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, who cleared waivers. I ask whether the Rangers really are willing to move him. He's owed $18 million next season and his contract includes a $16 million vesting option in 2016 that can be voided if he fails to have 1,200 plate appearances in 2014-2015 combined or 600 next year.
Whichever team wins the American League pennant may literally be the last one standing. There have been some serious injuries among the contenders.
The Orioles are resilient. Keep saying it until your voice becomes raspy. They're resilient. They've won without Machado and Matt Wieters. They've won without the anticipated production from Davis, J.J. Hardy and Ubaldo Jimenez. I could add to the list, but we've gone over it enough times to recite it in unison.
They played without Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts in the 2012 postseason. They could win the American League East, maybe clinch home-field advantage, without Machado and Wieters.
The Orioles are resilient.
Are they deep enough to get deep into October?
Before I close this entry, I've got some leftover quotes from former Orioles reliever Pedro Strop, who tossed a scoreless eighth inning yesterday and stranded two runners.
"First time I've ever faced those guys since I got traded," he said. "It was a little weird, because those are the guys that used to be my teammates. I was a little pumped up, obviously. It's just the same. Got to get outs.
"Maybe I was a little pumped up, yeah. I got out one of the better hitters in the league (Adam Jones) in that kind of a situation, getting out of a jam. I gave my team an opportunity to win there, so that situation was a tough situation. That might also be why I was a little pumped up."
Strop noticed all the Orioles fans in attendance.
"Yeah, that was really weird to see all that orange in the stands," he said. "Usually, this
town is Cubs. That was kind of weird."
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